Torus Housing awards 3.1% pay rise for 700 staff

The pay rise, which has been agreed with trade union Unison, will be effective from July 2018 and will be backdated to April 2018.

The pay increase follows a previous pay offer of a 2% pay rise, which was rejected by Unison members who work as administrators, customer service advisers, housing officers and in maintenance at the Warrington and St Helens-based organisation. Unison members voted to take industrial action over the 2% pay increase offer.

Dan Smith, north west regional organiser at Unison, said: “This is a good outcome for all concerned and shows the value of staff standing together. After years of falling living standards, this pay rise should come close to matching price rises. Staff only got 1.5% last year, and at long last the tide has now turned on pay.

“Torus is a cash-rich organisation and we will be putting a strong case for a significant real wage rise next year. Torus has set a new benchmark for the sector, which we expect others to follow. Housing associations are important organisations in our communities and they have a responsibility to be good employers.

“[The organisation] should be paying all [its] staff, not just their top executives, decent pay rises each year.”

Caroline King, group head, brand and communications at Torus, said: “Following extensive negotiations and a recent consultative ballot, Unison and Unite members working at north-west housing group Torus have accepted a final pay award of 3.1%. This is 1.1% in addition to a 2% pay award that had already been agreed for 2018/19. Torus is pleased that this matter has now been resolved and that industrial action which would have impacted on key customer services has been avoided.“